Thumbnails: Patrick Arrasmith

Thumbnails: 30 Second Interviews

An ad in Locus Magazine pointed me towards a Subterranean Press edition of Snow Crash illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith. Normally I don't need any reminding about how cool Patrick is, but it did remind me that I had yet to hassle him for a quick interview. Without further adieu....

Favorite painting you did in the past year?
I did a piece for Subterranean Press that was fun for me to explore getting color scratchboard to work in a new way. The book was New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear. [BOTTOM IMAGE] I've been playing with putting color into the scratchboard on the computer for a little bit now and this piece was put together in a modular way. I took the different elements and placed them together to make the end image that made me feel like I was getting somewhere.

Dream assignment?
Someone to pay me to write and illustrate the crazy daydreams I have while working at a desk doing their art.

Do you remember the first time you knew you wanted to be an artist?
I think I was always doing art in one way or another, except for a brief moment when crafting drug paraphernalia took precedence. The moment for me was when I finally realized that I had to forget about the negative associations (starving artist etc.) of pursuing art as a career and just go for it.

What painting do you wish you painted?
Every time I get the new Spectrum book or go to a Society of illustrators Annual show I would say I feel jealous that I didn't paint so many of the images. But to not dodge the question I think the first time I saw the Gustave Doré engraving "Invocation to Muhammad" in college I had the strongest feeling of I wish I did that.


Most embarrassing illustration related moment?
Years ago turning in an utter turd to a trade magazine because I did it in the back of a van on a road trip. Literally the majority of the illustration was done at around 65 to 70 MPH. So unprofessional. When I first started I had trouble separating work and play.

What are you working on now?
The 5th installment of The Last Apprentice series of young adult fantasy novels. It's a decent amount of work with interiors so it's been my only focus lately.